Meritus Medical Center welcomes you! Our employees are ready to provide excellent care as prescribed or recommended by your team of physicians. To assist in this goal, it is important for you to know your rights as a patient, as well as your responsibilities. Access to this medical center is given without discrimination as to age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, ability to pay, type of illness, ethical or political belief, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA VER LOS DERECHOS DEL PACIENTE EN ESPAÑOL.
Patient’s rights – you or your designee have the right to:
Respectful and Safe Care
1. Be given considerate, respectful and compassionate care.
2. Be given care in a safe environment, free from abuse and neglect (verbal, mental, physical, sexual).
3. Have a medical screening exam and be provided stabilizing treatments for emergency medical conditions and labor.
4. Be free from restraints and seclusion unless needed for safety.
5. Be told the names and jobs of the health care team involved in your care if staff safety is not an issue.
6. Have respect shown for your culture, personal values, beliefs and wishes.
7. Be given a list of protective and advocacy services when needed.
8. Receive information about your hospital and physician charges, ask for estimate of charges before care is provided as long as patient care is not impeded, examine your hospital bill and receive an explanation of it.
9. Have access to spiritual care.
10. Have conversations with our Ethics Services about issues related to your care.
11. Have a family member/designee and your doctor notified when you are admitted to the hospital.
Effective Communication and Participation in Your Care
12. Receive information in a way you can understand. If you are deaf or limited English proficiency (LEP) you will have access to interpreter free of charge.
13. Get information from your doctor/ provider regarding diagnosis, test results, prognosis, possible outcomes of care and unanticipated outcomes of care.
14. Be involved in your plan of care and discharge plan, or have your family/designee involved.
15. Have your pain assessed and managed.
16. Refuse care.
17. Have someone with you for emotional support during your stay unless that individual interferes with your or others’ rights, safety or health.
18. Have visitors or change your mind about visitors.
19. Designate anyone of your choice to make healthcare decisions for you if at some point you are unable to make decisions.
End of Life Decisions
20. Create or change an advanced directive (also known as a living will or durable power of attorney for health care).
21. Have your organ donations known and honored when possible.
Informed Consent
22. Give informed consent before any non-emergent care is provided including benefits and risks, alternatives to care and the benefits and risks of the alternatives to the care.
23. Agree or refuse to take part in medical research studies without it affecting your care.
24. Allow or refuse to allow pictures for purposes other than your care by staff or visitors.
Privacy and Confidentiality
25. Be provided a copy of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Notice of Privacy Practices.
26. Access to your medical record in accordance to the HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.
27. Expect privacy and confidentiality in care discussions and treatment.
Complaints about Care
28. Complain and have your complaint reviewed without affecting your care. If you have a complaint about your care you may talk to your doctor, clinical nurse manager, or department manager.
29. You may also contact Patient Advocates Office at 301-790-8662 or 301-790-8499 or email advocates@meritushealth.com. The hospital has a process for resolving concerns about your care.
30. If your complaint is not resolved by the hospital to your satisfaction you may contact regulatory or state agencies which include:
Office of Health Care QualityMaryland Department of Health410-402-8000Toll-free 1-877-402-8218https://health.maryland.gov/ohcq/Pages/home.aspx Maryland Physician Board of Quality410-764-4777www.mpb.state.md.us The Joint Commission Office of Quality Monitoring1-800-994-6610complaint@jointcommission.orghttps://www.jointcommission.org/contact-us/